Distributing Co., Inc. || "Quality Sales and Service since 1947"
The Sam McQuade Sr./Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament
The USA's Largest non-profit, one weekend slowpitch softball tournament was founded in 1976 by Sam McQuade Sr. of McQuade Distributing Co., Inc., the local distributor of Budweiser beer. Being a father of a special needs son - Sean, Sam was keenly aware of the financial challenges of local charities and organizations whom were involved in helping such less fortunate people. The first year of the tournament, Sam and countless volunteers raised over $1,000 and brought 103 teams in 4 divisions to Bismarck, ND. The event grew to over 400 teams in 13 divisions and raised over $30,000 in total donations in 1992, the year Sam Sr. passed away. The tournament is now run by a Board of Directors, which includes Sam McQuade Jr., his daughter Shannon McQuade-Ely and several other community leaders.Over the years the tournament has become one of Bismarck's - if not North Dakota's largest events. Teams have come from as far away as Washington, California, Colorado, Missouri, Nevada and Michigan, as well as from 2 Canadian Provinces. In fact, the tournament helped sponsor international divisions in 2006 in Bosnia, and one in Baghad in 2007. These teams have commented that it is more challenging and exciting to play and win in "The McQuade" due to the fact that they're competing with some of the best teams from throughout the Midwest. Player and fan interest in "The McQuade" is so keen that many teams are turned away each year because divisions have filled up. It's the fun weekend of the summer! And, to top it off, all of the proceeds benefit many local charities and organizations, especially those that help run the tournament.
| Number of Teams by Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976: 103 | 1977: 144 | 1978: 196 | 1979: 237 | 1980: 154 | |
| 1981: 250 | 1982: 282 | 1983: 332 | 1984: 373 | 1985: 411 | |
| 1986: 388 | 1987: 389 | 1988: 392 | 1989: 400 | 1990: 404 | |
| 1991: 401 | 1992: 402 | 1993: 403 | 1994: 404 | 1995: 420 | |
| 1996: 422 | 1997: 420 | 1998: 402 | 1999: 401 | 2000: 384 | |
| 2001: 380 | 2002: 378 | 2003: 397 | 2004: 403 | 2005: 404 | |
| 2006: 420 | 2007: 414 | ||||
McQuade/Budweiser Tournament Numbers...
| # of Total Teams (all years) | - 11,310 |
|---|---|
| # of Divisions | - 14 |
| # of Games Played (single tournament) | - 500+ |
| # of Umpires Needed | - 75 |
| # of Diamonds | - 39 |
| # of Softball Complexes | - 8 |
| # of Volunteer Workers (approx) | - 300+ |
| # of Players (approx) | - 5,000 |
| # of Families & Fans (est) | - 15,000 |
| # of States Represented | - 12 |
| # of Canadian Provinces | - 2 |
| # of International Tournaments | - 2 (Bosnia 2006) |
| - (Baghdad 2007) | |
| # of Back-to-Back Repeat Champions | - 32 |
| # of Rainouts | - 1 (1986) |
| # of Trophies | - 70 ($8,000) |
| # of Annual Tournaments | - 32 |
| # of Dollars Raised for Charities | - $850,000+ |
| # of Dollars Spent by Participants | - $1,000,000 + |
| # of Weddings | - 1 |
| # of Fireworks Displays | - 1 |
| # of Appearances by World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales | - 3 |
| # of Budweisers Enjoyed by Players & Fans | - ???,??? |
Congratulations to the 2007 (32nd Annual) Tournament Winners!
| Men's Class B | - Fargo - Tharaldson Enterprises |
|---|---|
| Men's Class C | - Lincoln, ND - Max Muscle/Schmidt Trucking |
| Men's D - Rec 1 | - Bismarck - ETI/Ewer Testing |
| Men's Rec II | - Moorhead, MN - RPN (Rover Plus Nine) |
| Men's Rec III & IV, Bud | - Dickinson - Miller Lite/Liquid Assets |
| Men's Rec III & IV, Bud Light | - Fargo - Ken Craft Agency/Houlihans |
| Men's Rec III & IV, Bud Select | - Bismarck - Vicky's III |
| Men's Masters 35-49 Michelob | - Mandan - Shirt Shack |
| Men's Masters 35-49 Mich Ultra | - Bismarck - Stadium Sports Bar |
| Men's Masters 50 | - Fargo - Performance Centers Inc. |
| - | |
| Defenders of Freedom (Baghdad) | - Collaberation - The Punishers |
| - | |
| Women's Class C | - Grand Forks - Ray Chiropractic/Red Wing |
| Women's Class D | - Fargo - Microsoft |
| Women's Rec I | - Dilworth, MN - M & J Saloon |
| Women's Rec II | - Jamestown - Brass Rail |
| Women's Rec III | - Saskatoon - Nothin' Flat About the Prairie |
We will soon be welcoming back teams for the 33rd Annual Sam McQuade Sr./Budweiser Charity Softball Tournament!
It will be held the weekend of June 27, 28 and 29, 2008. You can open the following files to see a copy of the 4-page Rules, a Map showing the locations of the softball diamonds or to see the Weekend Schedule of events. For an up-to-date list of the banned bats, please go to www.asasoftball.com. The starting games have all been scheduled, so please download/print your division's bracket. Otherwise, the team packets will be mailed out the week of June 16th. Thanks to all who have entered. We look forward to seeing you!
McQuade/Budweiser Brackets for June 27, 28, & 29, 2008
(As of June 13, 2008)
The first link is a jpeg file that is best for screen viewing only, but the second is an Acrobat Reader printable version in pdf.
